The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1887-09-23

er his regiment
They passed quickly down the rear
ward slope into the deeper shadow OF
the valley, and presently turning their
heads to look behind, saw family out
lined against the sky the figures of the
Southern skirmishers as one after an
other they emerged from the corn and
stood upon the crest.
The last of Chickamauga! All, no!
Not the last; for as the little rear
guard reached the lower ground they
came upon their wounded comrades,
who, too badly hurt to go on to the
rear, had yet with untold agony
dragged themselves back from the fire.
swept ground in front, and so got par
tial shelter. Along the route these
wretched sufferers lay thickly. Here
one with an arm half torn off; there a
foot dangling; here poor fellow shot
through the body, his death question
not OF hours, but of minutes; and so
on, in sickening continuance And all
wanting waterl There had been none
all day, and the retreating soldiers
were marching with lips and tongues
blackened and swollen and cracked
with thirst until many could utter no
articulate sound.
Boys, you won't go and leave us
here?"
"For Gods sake, water! water!'
"Boys, are you going ON the retreat
and leave us behind?"
You ought to hold the ground,
boys, till they take care of us!''
Water! water! Don't let us die
hereP'
Pitiful, pitiful appeals! And all in
vain. Not a canteen of water in the
whole command. Not an ambulance
within miles. Nothing but victori-
Gus foe behind, an unknown way in
front, and the blackness of night over
all! Pitiful, pitiful! Harder to face
these reproaches-than all of Bragg s
artillery. All! here is punishment!
Not only to leave the field to the enc
my, but to abandon torn and bleedin o
brothers, also!
So thought the Captain, riding in
rear of his little worn command. Pres
entity he heard well-known voice at
the roadside, and pulled up his horse.
Good heavens, Major! You here,
and hurt" cried the Captain, as he
came close to a PROSTATE figure at the
roadside.
eyes, Milney, I'm here. For God s
sake get me drink of water!n replied
the sufferer. And then wenton eager
ly: '1s it a retreat, Captainp Have we
lost it all? Where are the ambulances
and the hospital trainsp Are all these
poor fellows to be left to the enemy?
Why, they can't take care of their own
in this wilderness, let alone ours! 1t
is cruel-itis horrible! Get me drink,
Captain; get me drink! That is all
shall ever want. l shall not get away
from here E"
Captain Milney dismounted. He had
a few precious drops of water in his
canteen-hoarded for hours against his
own thirst. His friend, Major Gallon,
he found was shot in the breast-how
badly could not be told. He was
quickly relieved so far as half a dozen
swallows of the life-giving water could
do it,
GOD bless you, Milney!" he cried.
you've done me the last service I
shall receive in life. God bless you,
my friend! And now go on. You
can't help these poor fellows here,
know; you can't help me any further.
Go on with your regiment and leave
us. But here, Milney, take this letter,
and when you go back in Gods Ohio
country give it to Nina Clark, and tell
her that her promise made man of
me when l was nigh desperation and
despair. Tell herr say God bless her
for itn'
"Mina Clarkr' exclaimed Captain
Milney, starting back. 'Mina Clark!
Is there no mistaken l thought it was
-
mo no-Mina Clark. l can't tell
you now, Milney. I'm growing weak.
Goodbye, Milney good-bye!"
If any inward trouble showed itself
in the Captains, face none could see it
in the gloom. He was silent but an
instant, and then said, slowly and
firmly, but in a greatly altered voice:
"Major Cation, I'm going to put you
on my horse and forward you to Chat
tanooga. You shall be your own mes
senger to Nina Clark. You have some
thing to live for, and you will live!
While lit does not NATTER
Had the Major known that Captain
Milney was himself Wounded-a pain
full hurt in the foot, not dangerous, but
disabling-his protests might have
been vigorous, but they would not
have swerved the Captain. AS it was,
the unexpected turn seemed to give the
Major new lease of life. In an in
slant he had resolved to live-he who
q moment before had hidden his friend
goodbye forever. Astride the Cap
tain's horse he seemed to get yet an
other lease of life, and all this stood
him in good stead. The troops, tired
and despirited as they were, moved
rapidly on the road and the Majors
horse kept pace with them. Long be-
fore the night was gone Major Cation
was safe in an ambulance and up on the
way to Chattanooga with not thought
of any thing but rest and sleep.
And Captain MilneyP Why, the
captain Jared badly. He had already
been too much about on his injured
foot, and it was swollen and stiff. He
started to hobble after his men, but it
was so hard that in half an hour he
gave it up and lay down by the road
side, mile or two behind the rear
most of the retreating soldiers. 1t
seemed almost as if Major Cations